10 Things Every Traveller Should Do

Testing out these 10 things that every traveller should do on their vacation will allow you to have more fun, and enjoy the experience to the fullest.

1. Savour your first few hours after arrival - First impressions really are worth a thousand others.. I often take tons of photos and notes when I travel, but it's always the first few that truly capture something vivid and memorable. So.. forget your email, forget CNN, and just soak up the place.

2. Embrace being a tourist - Some people would rather consider themselves "travellers", instead of "tourists", but if seeing every attraction that makes a town unique is considered touristy, what's wrong with that?

3. Check out your hotel literature - Don't ignore all those glossy brochures and flyers that are stuffed in your nightstand drawer. Often times you'll find or learn something about your destination that you never knew existed!

4. Run an errand for a friend - Remember that friend that asked you to pick up macadamia popcorn in Hawaii, or track down that silk scarf in China? Often times when searching out something that is important for others, it will lead you to the most amazing and memorable experiences on your trip.

5. Take in a performance or sporting event - Now you dont' necessarily need to attend the bullfights in Spain, but taking in an event or performance really allows you to rub elbows with the locals, and take in all the ambiance.

6. Check out a bookstore - Find that little bookshop tucked away in a corner that only the locals know about. Have fun browsing the shelves to see what the locals are interested in.

7. Ride a bus to the end of the line - Well, maybe not exactly the end of the line, but atleast 6 stops past where you intended. You'll definitely get a bigger view of the city, and perhaps see some otherwise forgotten places.

8. Read the daily newspaper - If you can! Seriously, almost every major city worldwide will have an English language paper. Reading the local news will always give you a much bigger picture about a place than you ever knew.

9. Go to McDonald's - Did I say that? Now it might not be as interesting if you're off to Chicago or Miami, but stopping at a McDonald's in Tokyo or Bolivia would definitely give you a good mix of strange and familiar.

10. Get Lost - In the nicest way, of course... Wandering without any intended destination is sometimes the best way to see and experience the true culture of a destination.